Time meter with alarm device



Sept. 19, 1961 R. BEAUMANN 3,000,172

TIME METER WITH ALARM DEVICE Filed Aug. 25, 1959 2 Shee'ts-Sheet 1 INVENTOR C T W Sept. 19, 1961 R. BEAUMANN 3,000,172

TIME METER WITH ALARM DEVICE Filed Aug. 25 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F, I I 111 50 1 n A /'Y) 52 4? 24 4 5 e 44 2s H65 34 32 33 40 41 34 1 R W 37/41 L 3 i 91 A 1 9 11 1o 11 nus 13 W 53 4 27 25 K26 I 24 7 2 5 51 14 5- 23? a m [A \1-|\ /\1 (R \3 INVENTOR United States Patent O 3,060,112 1 f TIME METER WITH 'ALARM DEVICE Raymond Beaumann, Les Bois, Switzerland, assignor to Ebauches S.A'., Neuchatel, Switzerland Filed Aug. 25, 1959, Ser. No. 835,954

AClaims' priority, application Switzerland Sept. 11, 1958 I If 8 Claims. (Cl. 58 -21413) The presentinvention relates-'to-a time meter with alarin device, adapted to produce an alarm signal at the end of a predetermined lapse of'time, including a clockworkmovement and an alarm device arranged between two pillar plates, a driving member adapted to successively engage a part of the said clockwork movement and a part of the said alarm device, a single main spring arranged outside the frame formed bythe' said pillar plates and a rotary winding knob, coaxial with the said driving member, serving to' wind the main spring and to set the said lapseof time,

According to the invention, the outer end of the main spring is attached to a cap secured to one of the said pillar plates, whereas its inner end is hooked to a pin traversing the shaft of the winding knob and the hub of the driving member, the said pin interlocking the winding knob and the driving member and securing the winding knob in axial direction. 4 3 p I 4 p i The invention also relates to a'method of manufacture of-the above mention'ed timemeter with alarm device. This methodcomprises the steps of placing in the frame the driving member and the gears of the clockwork move ment and of the alarm device, fixing the pillar plates to each other, placing the winding knob by'inserting its' shaft into the hub of the driving member, mounting a core on the lower end of the said hub, pushing the pin through the said 'core, hub'and shaft, placingthe cap provided with itsspring on the lower pillar plate, the cap being guided-by bent portions of the said pillar plate, turning the'cap so as to hook the inner end of the spring to the said pin, further turning the cap so as to completely stress the main spring, turning back the cap soas to partially release the said spring, fixing the cap by means of a rivet in the angular position obtained, placing the casingformed by a combined back and caseband and a bezel, and calking the bezel on the said 'combinedback and caseband.

I The accompanying drawings show, by way of example, one embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the timemeter.

. FIG. 2 is an inverted plan view with the back of the casing removed.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view at an enlarged scale, after removal of bezel, winding knob and upper pillar plate. FIGS'. 4 to 6' are cross-sectional views taken along the lines IV-IV, VV and VI -VI of FIG. 3, respectively. The frame of the time meter illustrated is formed by two pilla'r plates 1 and 2, maintained at adistance from each-otherby means of pillars 3 (FIG. 3). Both pillar plates 1 and 2 have the same shape, but the upper pillar plate 1 has adiameter slightly greater than that of the lower pillar plate 2,asv shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The time meter consists of a clockwise movement and an alarm device,-described hereinafter, all parts of which are pivoted in the pillar plates 1 and 2.

. A driving nemberA, constituted by a toothed sector, is rigidly secured to a hub.5 pivoted in the pillar plates 1 and 2. The hub 5 is provided with twoshoulders 6 and 7 whichmaintain it in axialdirection (FIG. 6). Within the hub 5 is freely mounted a central shaft 8 projecting on both sidesof the pillar plates 1 and 2.

At its upper end, the shaft 8 has two lateral lugs 9 which areembedded in the mass of a winding knob 10,

facilitate its seizing with the fingers for rotating it upon windingand setting of the apparatus, and a mark 12. On its lowerface the knob 10 has a groove 13 extendingover almost one complete turn, which groove is engaged by a lug or bent portion 14 of the upper pillar plate 1 (FIG. 6), the lug 14 forming a stop means limiting the rotary movement of the knob 10.

At its lower end the central shaft 8 has a diametral hole, and a similar hole is provided in the hub 5, which hole is engaged by a pin 15 (FIG. 4) which also traverses a core 16 freely mounted on the hub 5. The inner end of a main spring 17 is hooked to one end of the pin 15;

whereas its outer end is attached to the wall of a cap 18. fixed to the lower pillar plate 2 and constituting a stationary barrel. The inner end of the spring 17 is provided with a hole simply engaged by the end of the pin 15. Near its outer end the spring 17 has a narrower por-' tion 19 (FIGS. 2 and 4) bearing against the edges of a rectangular opening of the cap 18, thus fixing the outer end of the spring 17 to the said cap 18. In order to hook the outer end of the spring 17 to the cap 18, it suffices to turn said end by 90, to engage it in the opening of the cap 18 and to bring back said spring end into its initial position. I

The cap 18 is secured to the lower pillar plate 2 by two lugs or bent portions 20 of the plate 2, bearing against a flange 21 of the cap 18, and by. a rivet 22 fitted in the plate 2 and biting the flange 21 of the cap 18. There will be explained later how the cap 18 is put in place and releasing of the alarm device.

made for instance of plastic material, -On its top face In the position illustrated in FIG. 3 the toothed sector' 4 is in mesh with a pinion 23 rigidly fixed to an. alarm wheel 24 which actuates a hammer 25 provided with two teeth 26. The hammer 25 carries a block 27 adapted to strike against a bell described later on.

At the right of and below the driving member 4 (FIG. 3) is arranged the train of gears of the clockwork movement, including the gears 28 to 35, the wheel 35 being the escape wheel which actuates a spindle 36 carrying a balance wheel or vibrating disc 37. The spindle 36 is milled so as to show two teeth (FIG. 3), so that it can oscillate like an alarm hammer when the escape wheel 35 is rotated. The wheel 31 is loosely mounted on the spindle 33 of the pinion 30 and is pressed by means of a friction spring 39 hearing on the pinion 30 against a disc 40 rigidly fixed to the spindle 38. A thin washer 41 of plastic material is inserted between the wheel 31 and the disc 40. The pinion 30 and the wheel 31 are therefore;

interconnected by means of a friction coupling, so that the wheel 31 can, under certain conditions, remain at rest when the pinion 30 is rotated, i.e. when the driving memher 4 is rotated. This friction coupling might also be provided at another place of the train of gears 28 to 35, for instance between the pinion 28 and the wheel 29.

The toothing of the sector 4 extends over about (FIG. 3) and the outer tooth thereof, at each end of the sector 4, is preferably shortened in order to avoid a jamming or interference as the toothed sector 4 engages eitherone of the pinions 23 and 28.

The casing of the apparatus essentially consists of a combined back and caseband 42 and a bezel 43. The combined back and caseband 42, which is made for instanceof plastic material, simultaneously forms the bell against which the block 27 of the hammer 25 strikes on A finger 44 made integral with the back 42 and arranged within reach of the block 27 is surrounded by a metallic tube 45 (FIG. 3).

On the other hand, a metallic stop 46 is embedded in the v s. 3 block 27 ..alternately strikesagainstthe finger. 44, 45. and the stop 46. Since the hit surfaces are made of metal, a disintegration of the plastic material under the effect of: the rrepeated shocks is avoided.

:1 In: superposed cut-outzparts 4J of ythepillar .plates 1 and Zeareuengagedtwo :proiections148 of atheuback 42 (16539 so as to orient rthe frameoi'the. apparatus with nespect'tozthe casing; The combined backwand-caseband 42-has a lug-' 49rprovided with anhole .55for fixingeg. a small. 'ehainrcarnyinga key-ring. t

The upper pillar plate 1 which, asalready said, .has a diameteri-lslightly ;-greater .than-ihat. of :the lower pillar plate :2, trests :with its edge: on a shoulder-50 of the combined backuand casehand 42 T('F.IG. ,4), .A washer 51 ofaplastiomaterial covers the-1 upper :plate .1 in .order to prevent moisturearand'ldustwfrom penetrating. withinv the apparatus.

hezel j-4-3,bearsga scale 10-15-60-45-60 indicating therrninuteswandaextending .over half its periphery. Betweenzthe: numerals and 45; the subdivisions are providedsforzeveryrSminutes, whereas between the :numerals 45321116. ;60, they are "provided for .every 3 .minutes -for checkingsthe telephone calls. Thebezel 43.,has a vertical flange 52 which iscalked on the :outer wall ofthe .combinedxlback and-caseba-nd 42 (.FIG. 4). The-.winding knob-'lo'hasya diameter scarcely less. than the inner diameter of the bezel 43, so lthatiittcloses the casingon its upper face.

fTWQZCliClllal' openings 53, superposed to eachother, .are provided :inathe pillar-plates 1 and 2. They enable the workerto observe'the position of the hammer 25, 27 on assembling the apparatus, care having to :be :taken that the block 27 be disposed between the :fi-nger 44 and the stop 46 (FIG. 3). In addition, the lower opening 53 al- IOWSulZhUfiIlgfiI' '44 to pass: Onthe other hand, in order to reduce the; cost price, the discs of metal .obtained by making :the openings 53-,are fixedtogether .and used. for makingsthe balance wheel .37.

The illustrated apparatus is assembled as follows:

EIhe driving-membert-tl withits :hub ,5 and all the gears ofthe clockwork movementand of ;thealarm-device are put in .place between .the. pil-larplates '1 and 2, andthe pillar ,platesxl and .2 are then .fixed together by riveting of the pillars 3. Thesinsulating -washer 51'is then placed on,:the ipillar plate 1v and .the winding knob 10.;is put in place -by. .'in-t r-odu.eing its shaft..8 intothe hub 5. On the lower projecting end of the hub .5 .the core 16 is-freely mountedtand the pin '15 is pushed-through the core 16 the =hubl=5 and the, shaft 8., thus interlocking-the winding knob.1-0..-and.the drivingvmember 4 and maintaining the winding knob v in-axial direction. The'capIS isthen seized, in which themainyspring 1"7h-as-.beenpreviously arranged so-that its outeriend be fixed as described to the-{wall of thecap :18.- As concerns the inner end of theizspring 1 7, .it forms at winding the diameter of which isdess than the diameter ofithecorelo, so-thattif the cap Hisputdnplaceunder thelugs 200i the'pillarplate 2 and turned liIl the clockwise direction of FIG. 2 ,the hole :providcd inathe spring 17 near its inner end gets caught on the; end of the pinI IS. :Thecap 18 is now turned in the.= clockwise direction .ofaFIG. ;2, by means vof a suitable tool,engaging-the,generallyrectangular opening 54 of'the cap 18, so as to Wind completely-the-spring 17, and then tunnedbaek over a fraction of one turn. The initial tensioniof :the'spring 17 is "thus adjusted, so as toutilize the most favorablesection of the winding diagram of the spring 17. The cap 18 is then fixed in the angular positionpbtained by placing the rivet 22 which, as already said, hites a portion of the diameter of the flange 21 of the cap -18. After this step, the bell 42 and the bezel 43* are put in-place, and the flange 52 of the bezel 43 calked on-the'bell 42. e

lt will "be see'rrt-hat 'the apparatus includes no-screws at all for assembling'-its-parts: All the parts-aremaintained by calking and riveting, which allows to manurfacture an apparatus with a very low cost price.

The apparatus works as follows:

When the parts have the position illustrated, the apparatus is in its rest positjonwthe spring 17 having an initial stress asrexplainedabwove vFoncompletely :winding the spring '17, =-the winding-knob 10 is seized and turned in the clockwisexdirectionof=yFIG, -1 (direction of the 1 disengagedifromttheaalarmpinion-fi (theaIa m sig al is st pp vandle eage th -p nion 2.8 tthe c ockwork mov menteTh t urt er -.-r t -ion o -.t e Marlins ska b 10rQtates-the gear 2 8, 29 andthe pinion 30, {but the resistance presented by the train of gears of theclockwork movemen l preve tsvthe wh l 31;. item -r tagrwhish is rend re possible lbuithegfrietioncoupling h t n h pinion v3.0 andeth a heel 3 ak rhh vin se athe la of. time atz helend of wh h the ala m s na hou d. e Produc d, 1thewin liua kn b .10 s r lea d Un rt action .of-.th spr n 1 the i-driv g mem e 1 ac uat the train of gears 28 to 35 and causesfiheibalance wheel 37 :to-;osei1l.a The;w n n ikuoh 0.-= Q l'y vI S in the counter-clockwi e:s ir ot on .FIG. sl nd at. the m m nt-when the mark 12 arrives in=front .o .=th humeral 0 of he bezel the toothe sec o i i d enga e fr m th pinion; 28 and engages "th la m cpih on 3. Through the int rmediary oil the ,ala m. wh e ie 511 6 hammer 5 .is-..aotuatedand .sb ock 7's ikes a ains he-pa ts-Mand 4.6ot th ell 42. Sinc :during the operation of:..the.ia a ra devieethetoothed: e tor 4..isd.is-

n ag d.;.frorn the-clockworkmovement, -.the-.-sprina .17 canpllt forth all its strength foractuating-the alarm. d vice andaimpar os he e ter 4 a spe d-which iis--:,muc.h e ter: thanbdore, so hattthes returnm vem of th mark 1.2-.from, theinumeral ?0? torthearest. positioniillusiz urinewhichthe-al rm signal sproduc dlisimade ina v ryi hort tim iinterva of about .one or We seconds. Asalre dy.said, heqm eraent oflro ation ot-theuzindin knob .10 is limi ed. h enga ement ofath zl 1 The described cycle cangnowibeginiagain, .:the.re,st .=posi-. tion of the partsllaeingzagainpreached.

eAWhenwthe anparatuszhas been set-tor :aqpredetenmined lapse of time, it is always possible to modifylithesetting bya'tu llingAheiwinding:knob :10 in:.:the"one or theadother d rection, althou h the; toothedzsector 4 is in mesh :with the pinionafiiiflueztlo theefrictioueoupling provided betw en, the-zpinion I3D:ian,d rthewheel 51.

'- i QriQhecking:the;te1ephone calls :the mark 12 is placed onrlh tnumeral .560. zofithezscale of .the bezel. '43, and

, device arranged-between two-pillar plates, a driving member adapted to-successively engage apart of the said clockworlcmovement and'a part of the said-alarm device,

a single main spring arranged outside the frame formed by the said pillar plates and a rotary winding knob, coaxial with the said driving member, serving to wind the main spring and to set the said lapse of time, the outer end of the main spring being attached to one of the said pillar plates, the winding knob being rigidly connected to a shaft and the driving member being rigidly secured to a hub, the improvement inwhich the inner end of the main spring is hooked to a pin traversing the shaft of the winding knob and the hub of the driving member, the said pin thus interlocking the said shaft and the said hub and also interlocking, therefore, the winding knob and the driving member and securing the winding knob in axial direction.

2. A time meter with alarm device as claimed in claim 1, in which the said driving member consists of a toothed sector.

3. A time meter with alarm device as claimed in claim I 1, in which, before the insertion of the said pin, the shaft of the winding knob is freely mounted within the hub of the driving member.

4. A time meter with alarm device as claimed in claim 1, in which the winding knob has on its lower face a groove extending over almost its whole periphery, which groove is engaged by a stop rigidly connected to the frame, in order to limit the movement of rotation of the winding knob.

5. In a time meter with alarm device as claimed in claim 1, in which the outer end of the main spring is attached to a cap secured to one of the pillar plates, the improvement in which the said cap is maintained on the frame by two lugs integral with one of the said pillar plates and by a rivet fitted into said pillar plate and biting a flange of the cap.

6. In a time meter with alarm device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a combined back and caseband maxle of plastic material, simultaneously forming a bell for the alarm device, said bell carrying a finger made of one piece therewith, adapted to be hit by an alarm hammer, the improvement in which the said finger is surrounded by a metallic tube, and a metallic stop is embedded in the said bell, so that when the hammer oscillates, it strikes alternately against the said finger and the said stop without disintegrating the plastic material of the bell.

7. A time meter with alarm device as claimed in claim 1, in which a washer covers the upper plate, in order to prevent moisture and dust from penetrating within the time meter.

8. A time meter with alarm device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a combined back and caseband, in which a bezel carrying a scale on a portion of its circumference surrounds the Winding knob and is fixed to the said combined back and caseband.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,068,395 Schaumburg July 22, 1913 2,044,228 Schlacht June 16, 1936 2,497,079 Godley Feb. 14, 1950 2,522,107 Fengler Sept. 12, 1950 2,577,004 Darnell Dec. 4, 195.1 2,667,736 Kiel Feb. 2, 1954 

